Delhi driver dies after being stabbed over request for extra choley, vendor arrested

A 35-year-old Delhi driver, Sandeep, died after he was allegedly stabbed repeatedly during a scuffle with a choley-bhaturey seller over a request for extra choley. The accused, Chintu Gupta, has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Police added a murder charge after Sandeep died in hospital on Tuesday.

In Short

• Victim suffered three abdominal stab wounds and multiple injuries to his arm
• He died Tuesday after treatment at two hospitals in west Delhi
• Police initially registered attempt to murder before adding murder charges

A 35-year-old private car driver died in hospital after he was allegedly stabbed several times during an argument with a food vendor over a request for extra choley in Delhi, police told news agency Press Trust of India.

The victim, identified as Sandeep, was allegedly attacked during a scuffle with choley-bhaturey seller Chintu Gupta near Jwalapuri Nala in outer Delhi's Nihal Vihar area on Sunday. Gupta has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody, while murder charges were added after Sandeep died on Tuesday.

Sandeep was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital on the night of October 25 and later shifted to Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Punjabi Bagh, where he died during treatment.

According to police, his medico-legal report recorded three stab wounds on the left side of his abdomen, three lacerated wounds on his left forearm and another lacerated wound on his wrist.

"The injured man was declared unfit to give a statement, following which police initiated an inquiry into the circumstances of the incident. During the preliminary inquiry, it came to light that a scuffle had taken place between the injured and the choley-bhaturey seller near Jwalapuri Nala," a senior police officer told PTI.

Based on the injuries and the circumstances at the spot, an FIR was registered at Paschim Vihar West police station on the same day under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with attempt to murder. Police said Gupta was arrested during the investigation and later remanded in judicial custody. Section 103(1), relating to murder, was added after Sandeep's death.

Sandeep's father, Bijender Singh, alleged that his son was attacked after a minor argument over food escalated. He said Sandeep had gone to a Sunday market and asked the vendor for some extra choley. The vendor allegedly abused him during the argument, leading to a scuffle in which Sandeep was stabbed repeatedly.

"I got to know about the incident and immediately reached the spot. Some eyewitnesses also helped me pick him up," Singh told PTI.

Singh said Sandeep was first taken to a nearby hospital, after which he arranged for his son to be shifted for better treatment. The family eventually moved him to Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, where doctors treated his injuries.

"My son's only fault was that he asked the shopkeeper for some extra choley. He was stabbed several times and died after battling for his life for two days," Singh alleged.

Sandeep, a resident of Rav Vihar in Nihal Vihar, worked as a private car driver. He is survived by his wife and two sons, aged four and 10.

His father alleged that three to four people were involved in the attack, while police had so far arrested only the vendor. "We want justice. All those involved in the killing should be identified and arrested," Singh said.

Police told PTI that the investigation was continuing and the possible role of other people in the alleged attack was being examined. Gupta remains in judicial custody and the case now includes a murder charge following Sandeep's death.

- Ends